Folding table.



No. 764,880. PATENTED JULY 12, 1904. T. GOLDWELL.

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27. 1903.

UNITED STATES Patented July 12, 1904.

THOMAS COLDWELL, OF NEWBURGH, NEIV YORK.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,880, dated July 12, 1904.

Application filed July 27, 1903 Serial No. 167,1l1. (No model.)

To (tl whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS CoLDwnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newburgh, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form in which I have contemplated embodying my invention; and said invention is' fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring-to the said drawings, Figurel represents a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a table embodying my invention, the legs being in open or operative position and partially broken away. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the table, showing one pair of legs closed and the other open. Fig. 3 is an end view of the table with the legs broken away. Fig. & is a bottom view of the devices for supporting the spring locking-bar and for limiting the movement thereof. Fig. 5 is a similar view of a modification. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the side spring which engages the locking-bar.

In the drawings, A represents the table-top, adjacent to each end of which is a cross-bar B, hinged to the top A by hinges b 7), each of said cross-bars carrying a pair of light supporting-legs 7) I). Each of the cross-bars B is provided with a locking pin or stud 12 which is preferably located in a recessed portion of the cross-bar upon a horizontal face 7). I also prefer to provide a more deeply recessed portion beside the face I), forming the face shown at V, which is separated from the face 0" by a vertical shoulder 6 I do not, however, limit myself to providing these recessed portions in the cross-bars, as they may be dispensed with.

C represents the locking-bar, which is preferably of flat spring-steel, although it might be formed of wood or other suitable material. The locking-bar C is pivoted centrally beneath the table-top (preferably to ablock c, secured to the under side of the table-top) by a pivot pin or screw 0. This bar is provided at its ends with slots 0 opening on opposite edges of the bar to engage the pins 6 of the cross-bars when the legs are in open position.

D represents a helical spring secured to the under side of the table-top and bearing against the edge of the locking-bar, so as to press it laterally, and I provide a stop against which this spring normally holds the locking-bar, in which position the lockingbar is in alinement with the pins 6 as shown.

in full lines in Fig. 2.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 4 I have shown the block 0 provided with stops 0 0 consisting of screws or pins, against which the spring D presses the locking-bar, and said block is provided with a stop or stops 0* to limit the movement of the locking-bar in a direction to compress the spring. The range of movement permitted the locking-bar is sufficient to enable the slots 0 c to disengage the locking-pins b 6 In Fig. 5 I have shown a slight modification of the block, here lettered 0 carrying the locking-bar lettered C. In this case the block is recessed, the inner walls 0 c of the recess being inclined to the longitudinal axis of the table. When the bar C is in its normal position, one edge engages one end of each of said lateral walls of the recess, so that the bar can be turned until arrested by the opposite ends of the inclined walls, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. '5.

The operation of the device is as follows: Supposing the legs to be in closed position, the locking-bar engages the flat side portions of the cross-bars B B, as shown at the right in Fig. 2, and lies in line with the lockingpins 6 To open the table, the operator holds it upon one side or end and moves first one pair of legs and then the other into operative position, during which movements the locking-pins are caused to engage the locking-bar and move it away from the table-top until the pins en age the slots 0 0 when the spring locking-bar snaps down over said pins and into engagement with the flat faces 7) 7)", as

shown at the left in Fig. 2 and in Fig. 3, thus bracing'the legs against both outward andinward movement. To fold up the table, the operator places it upon its side or end and swings the locking-bar laterally against the pressure of its spring D, thereby causing the slotted portions c to simultaneously disengage both of the locking-pins b 6 and at the same time the ends of the locking-bar will slip down the shoulders 6 into engagement with faces 7) 6. (See dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3.) The legs are then folded upon the table-top, as shown at the right in Fig. 2. The shoulders b 6 hold the locking-bar C out of engagement with the locking-pins 6 until the legs are closed, when they release the bar and allow spring I) to return it to normal position.

As before stated, the shoulders 7)5 b are not essential, as the friction between the lockingbar and the edge of the crossbar B when the latter is in open position will ordinarily hold the bar when it has been disengaged from the locking-pins. It will also be noted that when the legs of the table are folded the spring locking-bar C bears against the broad faces of the cross-bars B B and holds them in their folded positions.

the top, of cross-bars hinged thereto and provided with legs, a locking-pin secured to each cross-bar, a spring locking-bar pivotallymounted beneath said top and having open slots for engaging said pins, each of said crossbars having a vertically-disposed shoulder adjacent to the stop-pin to hold said locking-bar out of engagement with said pins, substantially as described.

2. In a folding table, the combination with the top, of cross-bars hinged thereto and provided with legs, a locking-pin secured to each cross bar, a spring lockingbar pivotally THOMAS COL D\VELL.

Witnesses:

HOWARD THORNTON, TILLIAM J. WVYGANT. 

